OpenAI is preparing to make its Deep Research feature available to free-tier users, following its initial rollout to Plus and Enterprise customers.

The tool, designed to conduct in-depth online research, allows ChatGPT to analyse vast amounts of information, synthesise key findings, and generate detailed reports. Isa Fulford, a member of OpenAI's technical staff, recently confirmed the planned expansion in a post on X.

Deep Research is powered by an optimised version of the o3 model, which enhances web browsing and data analysis capabilities.

Users can request reports on various topics, such as global smartphone adoption trends, and receive summaries with citations, graphs, and insights. The tool can also process text, images, and PDFs from online sources to provide more comprehensive responses.

No official timeline has been announced for when free users will gain access to the feature, but OpenAI's move signals an effort to expand the accessibility of advanced AI-driven research.

The functionality may also allow users to upload their own files for more personalised analysis, further enhancing the potential of ChatGPT as a research assistant.